Medal of James Buchanan 1857

Editor: This is the "Medal of James Buchanan" from 1857, made of bronze relief, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has this official, almost stately feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a carefully constructed image of power, made during a pivotal and deeply troubling moment in American history. Consider the context: 1857. Buchanan’s presidency was largely defined by his inaction and, some argue, his complicity in the escalating tensions leading to the Civil War. He aimed to appease pro-slavery factions. Editor: So the medal, intended as a commemorative object, is actually quite politically loaded? Curator: Precisely. It’s a classicized, idealized portrait, presenting a strong, authoritative figure. But the reality of Buchanan's policies fostered division and injustice, particularly toward enslaved people and free blacks. What’s missing here is any representation or acknowledgement of the profound social fissures of the time. Who does this image serve, and what does it omit? Editor: It’s like the medal is trying to create an image of stability when the country was anything but. It almost feels like propaganda. Curator: Indeed. Medals like these were tools used to construct and disseminate narratives of power. This one offers a carefully crafted image of Buchanan divorced from the tumultuous realities he presided over. We have to view it with a critical lens, always asking who is included and excluded from the official story. Editor: That makes me see the medal in a completely different light. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. By engaging critically with these objects, we reveal deeper truths.